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“Arrgh, I’m such an idiot, I reminded you of Mike’s death. Sorry, sweetheart.” He rocked her in his arms, but instead of feeling comforted, she felt terrible for deceiving him.
“Well, today I’m all yours, little one. So where have you not visited in London?”
She cocked her head and thought. There were some museums that she hadn’t been to; also she’d never visited the Tower of London. “Can we go to the Tower? I’ve always wanted to see the Crown Jewels,” she asked eagerly.
His mouth quirked in amusement. “That I didn’t expect. London Zoo, the dolls museum maybe...”
“Oh, yes, I’d forgotten the dolls museum, maybe we can go there next time?”
“The Tower it is then.” He grazed her cheek with a gentle finger. “You’d better behave. I’d hate to take you down into the dungeons for a punishment.”
She jumped at his bark of laughter. “What?” she asked, aggrieved.
“Your eyes lit up at that, you naughty girl. Now go and get ready, while I clear up the toast mess.”
In the bathroom she fired off a text to Allie, telling her not to turn up for lunch the following day. She’d just finished cleaning her teeth when her phone pinged with Allie’s reply.
I want to meet this David. I’ll be there.
Damn. Penny quickly sent another message.No. You can meet him when I’m ready.
Give it up, little sis. I am checking this guy out. See you tomorrow.
Shit.
* * *
They travelled by trainand walked from the station to the Tower. After purchasing their tickets, David took a selfie of them posing with a Beefeater Warder, looking very just like a Tudor, dressed in his red and black costume. A line of inky black ravens dotted the fence behind them. The yeoman explained that legend decreed if the ravens ever left the Tower, the kingdom would fall to its enemies.
“Why are you called Beefeaters?” Penny asked.
“Well, my dear, we don’t know for certain but historians suspect the name most probably originated from the French name for a food taster,buffetier.Don’t forget the French Normans who built the Tower were our enemies at the time. The king had a need for food tasters in case he was poisoned.”
They thanked the friendly yeoman and moved off to stop and stare up at the White Tower.
“After nine hundred years, William the Conqueror’s palace fortress, the White Tower, still stands and dominates the Tower of London to this very day,” David read aloud from their guidebook.
“I want to see the Crown Jewels. Why can’t we go there now?” Penny complained.
“We have timed tickets, Penny. I already explained this to you three times. The next time you mention it, I’m gonna take action and you’ll be one sorry little girl. How’s about an ice cream to put you in a happier frame of mind?”
She beamed at him, nodding furiously, her pigtails bouncing joyfully.
The vendor only had plain ice cream cones, each served with a chocolate flake. Penny was delighted with her cold treat, but he declined and bought himself a soda.
Penny slurped her ice cream with obvious relish. “Want a lick?” She thrust the creamy cone toward his mouth.
“No, thanks, love.”
Without warning, Penny thrust the ice cream at him and dotted the end of his nose. She giggled hysterically.
He caught hold of her arm and towed her in. Leaning down so they were face to face, he lowered his voice. “I’m not a fan of vanilla as you well know.”
He watched with satisfaction as she paled at his double entendre.
“Lick. It. Off,” he growled.
Eyes wide, she poked out her small pink tongue and licked the top of his nose, obediently removing the daub.
